Speakers and planning committee
Speakers and Moderators
Kathryn Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM
Women’s Health and Sports Performance Institute
Dr. Kathryn Ackerman is the Director of the Women’s Health, Sports & Performance Institute in Boston, where she leads clinical and research initiatives focused on optimizing health and performance for female athletes. She serves in multiple national and international leadership roles, including Chair of the USRowing Medical Committee, co‑chair of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Women’s Health Task Force, and member of both the World Rowing Medical Commission and the WTA Women’s Health Taskforce. Dr. Ackerman is also a Deputy Editor for the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Her training includes a BA from Cornell University, an MD from Johns Hopkins University, an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health, and advanced clinical fellowships in sports medicine, endocrinology, and neuroendocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. With 120 publications in the past decade, she is a widely recognized expert in female athlete health and performance.
Carly Anderson, PhD, LP, CMPC
Premier Sport Psychology; University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics; Professional Women’s Hockey League – Minnesota Frost; USA Hockey Women’s National Team; USA Curling National Team
Dr. Carly Anderson is a licensed psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant who owns Premier Sport Psychology and works with elite athletes across the University of Minnesota, the PWHL Minnesota Frost, USA Hockey, and USA Curling. Dr. Anderson is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including American Psychology Association, Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and the Academy of Eating Disorders. Her research focuses on eating disorders and psychological factors in female athletes, with more than a decade of peer‑reviewed publications. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of North Texas and postdoctoral fellowship at Park Nicollet Melrose Institute.
Erin Ayala, PhD, LP, CMPC
Skadi Sport Psychology, Feisty Women’s Performance Podcast
Dr. Erin Ayala is a licensed psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant who specializes in the mental health and performance needs of female athletes. As the founder of Skadi Sport Psychology and host of the Feisty Women’s Performance Podcast, she brings a decade of clinical and research expertise to issues such as performance anxiety, injury recovery, and confidence development. Her work includes more than 20 publications, features in major media outlets, and service on sports medicine advisory boards. At the Female Athlete Summit, she offers evidence‑based strategies to help athletes strengthen mental resilience and overall well‑being.
Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQSM
TRIA Orthopedic Center; University of Minnesota; Professional Women’s Hockey League – Minnesota Frost
Dr. Heather Bergeson is a sports medicine physician and co‑director of TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine, providing comprehensive care for female athletes from youth through the professional level. She serves as a team physician for the University of Minnesota and the Medical Director for the PWHL Minnesota Frost. She has expertise in injury prevention, athlete development, and long‑term health in sport. Her background includes leadership roles such as Medical Director for the TRIA Kids Pediatric Orthopedic Program and service on the Positive Coaching Alliance Executive Board. Dr. Bergeson is the chair of this Female Athlete Summit.
Heather Cichanowski, MD, CAQSM
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Dr. Heather Cichanowski is the Medical Director of TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine, where she leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the care of active and athletic females. A primary care sports medicine physician at TRIA Woodbury, she also serves as the head team physician for the U.S. Cross‑Country Ski Team and was part of Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She completed her medical training at the University of Minnesota, followed by residency and a primary care sports medicine fellowship. Dr. Cichanowski contributes to the Female Athlete Summit Planning Committee and is active in AMSSM and ACSM. She has authored and co‑authored book chapters on patellofemoral pain in female athletes, reflecting her commitment to advancing clinical knowledge in women’s sports medicine.
Anna Goorevich, MSc
Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport
Anna Goorevich is a research assistant and Ph.D. candidate at the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Her work focuses on sport sociology, gender, and athlete experiences. She holds degrees from Franklin & Marshall College and the University of Stirling, and is completing her Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. Goorevich is an active member of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport and has authored 13 publications.
Jo Hannafin, MD, PhD
Women’s Sports Medicine Center HSS
Dr. Jo Hannafin is an Emeritus Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Emeritus Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the HSS Institutional Review Board. A leader in orthopedic sports medicine, she is a member of AOSSM, The Forum, and AAOS. Dr. Hannafin has authored more than 40 publications and is widely recognized for her contributions to women’s sports health.
Courtney Jordan Baechler, MD, MS
Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center
Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler is a preventive cardiologist at Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Her clinical and academic background includes a master’s degree in epidemiology and public health, internal medicine residency, and medical training at the University of Minnesota. She brings expertise in cardiovascular prevention and women’s heart health, with 15 publications in the past decade.
Lauren Loberg, PT, DPT, OCS
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Dr. Lauren Loberg is an orthopedic physical therapist at TRIA Orthopedic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. She serves on the Female Athlete Summit Planning Committee and specializes in treating active and athletic populations. Dr. Loberg earned her DPT and undergraduate degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. She is board‑certified in orthopedics.
Chloe Murdock, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Dr. Chloe Murdock is the lead physical therapist for the TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine group at TRIA Woodbury. She is a board‑certified orthopedic specialist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with expertise in biomechanics and athlete rehabilitation. Dr. Murdock holds degrees from Penn State and Boston University and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a USA Track & Field coach.
Kristin Popp, PhD
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Dr. Kristin Popp is a Research Scientist at TRIA Orthopedic Center and the Director of Research for the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Female Athlete Program. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. She has published widely on bone physiology and modifiable risk factors for bone stress injuries in military recruits and endurance athletes. She holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and has over 15 years of experience coaching endurance athletes.
Hayley Russell, PhD, CMPC
St. Francis Xavier University
Dr. Hayley Russell is an Assistant Professor at St. Francis Xavier University and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant. Her research and teaching focus on sport psychology, athlete well‑being, and performance. She holds degrees from St. Francis Xavier University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Russell has authored more than 15 publications.
Libby Sharrow, PhD, MPP
Institute for Social Science Research, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dr. Libby Sharrow is a Professor of Public Policy and History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Director of Faculty Research at the UMass Institute for Social Science Research. Dr. Sharrow is the 2024 American Political Science Association Gladys M. Kammerer Award winner, an award that honors the best book published in the field of US national policy, particularly examining gender, policy, and equity in sport and society. Dr. Sharrow is a Distinguished Lecturer with the Organization of American Historians and an active member of the American Political Science Association. They have authored a Cambridge University Press book and have over 20 peer‑reviewed publications.
Hannah Silva-Breen, MS, CMPC
Skadi Sport Psychology West Virginia University
Hannah Silva‑Breen is a mental health therapist, Certified Mental Performance Coach, and PhD candidate at West Virginia University. She provides clinical and performance services through Skadi Sport Psychology. Hannah holds degrees in psychology, exercise physiology, kinesiology, and clinical mental health counseling. Her research and applied work focus on athlete mental health and performance, with 10 publications to date.
Rasa Troup, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, OLY
University of Minnesota Athletics; Confluence Counseling
Rasa Troup is a registered dietitian and Board‑Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics who works with University of Minnesota Athletics and Confluence Counseling. A former Olympian, she brings expertise in performance nutrition and athlete health. Rasa is a member of American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association and Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sport.
Jackie Voigt, PT, DPT, SCS
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Dr. Jackie Voigt is a sports physical therapist at TRIA Woodbury and a board‑certified sports clinical specialist. She is an active member of American Physical Therapy Association and contributes to TRIA’s Women’s Sports Medicine and Performing Arts programs. Dr. Voigt earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy and undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Dakota. She has presented research posters at CSM and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.
Planning committee
Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQSM
TRIA Orthopedic Center; University of Minnesota; Professional Women’s Hockey League – Minnesota Frost
TRIA Orthopedic Center; University of Minnesota; Professional Women’s Hockey League – Minnesota Frost
Heather Cichanowski, MD, CAQSM
TRIA Orthopedic Center
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Anna Goorevich, MSc
Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport
Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport
Nicole LaVoi, PhD
Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport
Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport
Lauren Loberg, PT, DPT, OCS
TRIA Orthopedic Center
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Kristin Popp, PhD
TRIA Orthopedic Center
TRIA Orthopedic Center
Joi Thomas
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
